Jerry E. Easley

1947 - 2024

Jerry E. Easley, AKA "Baba" was born in Kirksville, MO on February 11, 1947. He was raised on a farm in LaPlata, MO and met his wife, Denise Fowler, when her father was in town working on the local service pipeline. They found each other at a baseball game and were married on November 25, 1967. He left for college to pursue an accounting degree - eventually passing his CPA exam. He was drafted by the US Army in November 1969 shortly before their first child, Jennifer Lynn, was born. His father had aspirations of him returning to take over the farm, but Jerry landed in Des Moines, IA with his first REAL job at McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn and later FGDA (Farmer's Grain Dealer's Association). A son, Jason Paul, soon followed, and they would live in Ankeny, IA for a few years. Another job took him to Ottawa, IL for a short while, before they planted in Wahpeton, ND working for Wahpeton Canvas as their Controller. They raised both children there. Jerry was active in The Optimist Club and shuffling teenage boys all over the state, and into Canada, for dozens of hockey games and tournaments. He and Denise were also active in the Evergreen United Methodist Church. After his children were grown, he and Denise headed for Minneapolis to work for a short while. In 2005, his first grandchild, Kaelyn was born. After his son-in-law deployed to Iraq, his daughter and granddaughter came to live with them for a year. Jerry was never "Grandpa" - he was dubbed "Baba" by Kaelyn when she was learning to talk. Jerry and Denise followed their son and daughter-in-law out to Las Vegas, NV where he started with TJ Mahoney doing corporate and payroll taxes. Shortly thereafter, a second grandchild, Jackson, came along. Slowing down, they decided to move to the mountains of New Mexico, where they stopped in El Prado, to be closer to the grandkids. After a couple of years, elevation issues were starting to get the best of Jerry, so his kids moved him to the pacific northwest to lower elevation. In December 2023, he and Denise moved into a retirement community in Vancouver, WA. After an infection in his leg was discovered shortly after the move, Jerry's health declined rapidly. He passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, March 22, 2024. Jerry absolutely loved hockey his whole life! He and Denise were season ticket holders for the Minnesota Wild while in Minneapolis, and they followed the Las Vegas Golden Knights when they moved out west. He also very much enjoyed vacations and fishing trips with his two brothers and their wives, Larry and Doris Easley, and Garry and Ruth Easley. Jerry is preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Jackson, father, Leland Easley, and his brother, Larry Easley. He is survived by his wife, Denise Easley, his daughter Jennifer Lynn Fitch (Mark), his son Jason Paul (Bonnie Quam), and his grandchildren Kaelyn Fitch and Jackson Fitch. Jerry will be cremated and combined with Denise's ashes upon her passing. A graveside service will be planned at a future time.